Introduction

The 'Fancy a brew? Take a pew' garden was a winning entry in the RHS and BBC Feel Good Garden Competition. My design was chosen from over 150 entries nationwide. It was to take a small 6m x 4m front garden and showcase what can be done other than paving and tarmacking over it.

I chose Manchester’s canal and industrial heritage as my design inspiration to create a calming, restful space where you could ‘Take a pew’ with a brew after a hard days work. Using ordinary reclaimed materials such as sleepers and granite sets to make an extraordinary front garden that can turn your front garden into something to admire.

take a pew with Lee Burkhill

Manchester Canal Themed Garden Design

I chose the local canal network and industrial heritage that Manchester is famous for as my design inspiration. I designed a path to access the house that would also act as a diversion from the front pavement and road.

I also included a water feature using a canal soakaway in the middle of the garden. This was to allow the soothing sound of water to help calm visitors and block out road noise. I added a custom seating area for visitors to sit and have a rest in the garden, hoping to increase neighbourly conversation and socialisation. 

Adam Frost, Chelsea gold winning designer, reviewed my garden and said it had a brave choice of planting and a real relaxed feel.

Plan view of fancy a brew take a pew

Show Garden Images

Garden Ninjas design premiered at Hampton Court from the 5th – 11th of July 2016 to incredible reviews. Adam Frost said I was the man to watch out for and Monty Don said he thought the garden was ‘just lovely’.

Fancy a brew take a pew hampton court garden
Fancy a brew garden manchester
Fancy a brew canal planting manchester
sleeper and seating detail
Garden Ninja Mancheste cobbles 1

FANCY A BREW PLANT LIST 

Calamagrostis stricta ‘Karl Foester’
Nepeta govaniana
Aster radular ‘August sky’
Festuca amethystina
Anstrantia major ‘Snow storm’
Sangisorba tenuifolia
Pennisitum ‘Orientale’
Melica altissima alba
Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Garnet Schist’
Verbena bonariensis
Echinacea ‘Hot Lava’
Echinacea ‘Big Kahuna’
Hellenium flammendes
Echinacea ‘Hot Summer’
Hellenium moerheim ‘Beauty’
Sangisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’
Alchemilla mollis
Juncus effusus
Echinacea ‘Tikki Torch’
Myrtus communis

Do you fancy a brew style garden? Why not get in touch and see what Garden Ninja can design for you?

Gallery Click on a thumbnail to view full size

The Fancy a Brew Garden

Share this now!

Other projects